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Justice News

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Northern District of California

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, December 13, 2013

Three People Arrested For Crack Dealing Outside Boys & Girls Club In Oakland

OAKLAND – Three people were indicted on December 10, 2013, by a federal grand jury on charges of drug trafficking within 1,000 feet of McClymonds High School in Oakland, announced United States Attorney Melinda Haag and FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Johnson.

The three individuals are:

Alton Lerand Hirsch

Charles Edward Moss, Jr.

Nolan Ronald Jones

The defendants are each charged in separate indictments alleging that they dealt cocaine base in the form of “crack” within 1,000 feet of McClymonds High School, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 860(a).

This investigation targeted the corner of Mead Ave., Market Street, and 24th Street in Oakland, which is right outside of the Boys & Girls Club of Oakland, and within 1,000 feet of McClymonds High School. This corner has nevertheless been a known open-air crack market in Oakland. The cases are part of an ongoing relationship between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Drug Enforcement Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oakland Police Department, and the Oakland community.

“This area is one frequented by the children of Oakland,” commented United States Attorney Melinda Haag. “Those children deserve the same chance as children who live in other neighborhoods around the Bay Area: the chance to go to and from school and the Boys & Girls Club without having to navigate through crack deals on the way. That is why I have directed my office to work with the DEA, FBI and the Oakland Police Department to aggressively prosecute drug trafficking in areas around Oakland schools.”

These cases follow on the heels of similar charges targeting crack dealing within school zones in the Tenderloin area of San Francisco. Ms. Haag also previously targeted other crack dealing in Oakland that took place within school zones, such as the area of Sycamore Street, near West Street, in Oakland. Those defendants are currently serving their sentences in prison.

Haag stressed that more charges could be on the way. “Everyone who treats Oakland as an open-air drug market should be on notice: law enforcement is paying attention. You won’t know when the next arrests will be, or which schools or street corners we’ll focus on next, but if you’re caught you will face significant time in federal custody.”

The three defendants were arraigned in federal court in Oakland. They are currently in the custody of the United States Marshal.

The maximum statutory penalty for violating the federal drug-free school zone statute is 40 years in prison, with a minimum mandatory one year in jail, at least six years and up to life on supervised release, and a maximum fine of up to $2,000,000. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

This prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the Oakland Police Department.

Please note, an indictment contains only allegations against an individual and, as with all defendants, Alton Hirsch, Charles Moss, and Nolan Jones must be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.